nTaps

 Network Instruments

Install Network Instruments’ Aggregator nTAPs on 10 Mb, 100 Mb, or 1 Gb links for quick, anytime access to network traffic. Designed for low-to-moderate utilization full-duplex links, Aggregator nTAPs merge data into single streams for transmission to up to two single-receive analysis devices. Industry-leading buffer sizes offer less likelihood of lost packets than SPAN ports to ensure critical traffic reaches analyzers, remote monitoring appliances, and forensics tools. For networks and analyzers of different topologies, a Conversion Aggregator nTAP is available.

Network Instruments nTap SPAN

SPAN
Network Instruments nTap

TAP
Most enterprise switches copy the activity of one or more ports through a Switch Port Analyzer port, also known as a mirror port. An analysis device can then be attached to the SPAN port to access network traffic

A TAP (Test Access Point) is a passive splitting mechanism installed between a ‘device of interest’ and the network. TAPs transmit both the send and receive data streams simultaneously on separate dedicated channels, ensuring all data arrives at the monitoring device in real time.

Pros

  • Low cost
  • Remotely configurable from any system connected to the switch
  • Captures intra-switch traffic

Pros

  • Eliminates the risk of dropped packets
  • Monitoring device receives all packets, including physical errors
  • Provides full visibility into full-duplex networks

Cons

  • Cannot handle heavily utilized full-duplex links without dropping packets
  • Filters out physical layer errors, hampering some types of analysis
  • Burden placed on a switch’s CPU to copy all data passing through ports
  • Can change the timing of frame interaction altering response times
  • Switch prioritizes SPAN port data lower than regular port-to-port data

Cons

  • Analysis device may need dual-receive capture interface
  • Additional cost with purchase of TAP hardware
  • Cannot Monitor intra-switch traffic
Bottomline

When deciding whether to use a TAP or SPAN the two primary factors that will affect your decision are the type of analysis and amount of bandwidth.

A SPAN port performs well on low-utilized networks or when analysis is not affected by dropped packets.

A TAP is ideal when analysis requires seeing all the traffic, including physical-layer errors. A TAP is required if network utilization is moderate to heavy. An Aggregator TAP can be used as an effective compromise between a TAP and SPAN port, delivering some of the advantages of a TAP and none of the disadvantages of a SPAN port.

Model Interface Media
10/100 Copper nTap Link A/Link B (Link under test)
Copper Analyzer Interface		 RJ45
RJ45
10/100/1000 Copper nTap Link A/Link B (Link under test)
Copper Analyzer Interface		 RJ45
RJ45
10/100/1000 Copper Conversion nTap

Link A/Link B (Link under test)
Copper Analyzer Interface

SFP Conversion Analyzer Interface

RJ45
RJ45

SX
850 nm, 1000BaseSX
Multimode
LC connector
LX
1310 nm 1000BaseLX
Multimode or Single-mode
LC connector
Network Instruments 10/100 Copper nTap Deployment

10/100 Copper nTap Deployment
Network Instruments 10/100/1000 Copper nTap Deployment

10/100/1000 Copper nTap Deployment
Network Instruments 10/100/1000 Copper to Optical Conversion nTap Deployment

10/100/1000 Copper to Optical Conversion nTap Deployment
Model Interface Media
10/100/1000 Aggregator nTap Link A/Link B (Link under test)
Copper Analyzer Interface		 RJ45
RJ45
Aggregator Conversion nTap

Link A/Link B (Link under test)
Copper Analyzer Interface

SFP Conversion Analyzer Interface

RJ45
RJ45

SX
850 nm, 1000BaseSX
Multimode
LC connector
LX
1310 nm 1000BaseLX
Multimode or Single-mode
LC connector

Optical to Copper Aggregator nTap
(Single-mode 9 µm & Multimode 50/62.5 µm available)

Link A/Link B (Link under test)
Copper Analyzer Interface

Fiber Connector

RJ45
RJ45

LC (Multimode/Singlemode)
Network Instruments 10/100/1000 Aggregator nTAP

10/100/1000 Aggregator nTAP
Network Instruments Aggregator Conversion nTAP

Aggregator Conversion nTAP
Network Instruments Optical to Copper Aggregator nTAP

Optical to Copper Aggregator nTAP
Model Interface Media
One-Channel Optical nTAP Fiber Connector LC (Multimode/Singlemode)
Two-Channel Optical nTAP Fiber Connector LC (Multimode/Singlemode)
Three-Channel Optical nTAP Fiber Connector LC (Multimode/Singlemode)
Optical to Copper nTAP

Link A/Link B (Link under test)
Copper Analyzer Interface

Fiber Connector

RJ45
RJ45

LC (Multimode/Singlemode)
Optical to Copper Aggregator nTAP

Link A/Link B (Link under test)
Copper Analyzer Interface

Fiber Connector

RJ45
RJ45

LC (Multimode/Singlemode)
Network Instruments Single-Channel Optical nTAP

Single-Channel Optical nTAP
Network Instruments Two-Channel Optical nTAP

Two-Channel Optical nTAP
Network Instruments Three-Channel Optical nTAP

Three-Channel Optical nTAP
Network Instruments Optical to Copper nTAP

Optical to Copper nTAP

For more information, please contact us.